Welch retires hurt, Zimbabwe at 178/3

Nick Welch and Sean Williams hit half-centuries, but Welch retired hurt and his replacement Craig Ervine as Zimbabwe reached 178-3 right after on Day 1 of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh at Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium in Chattogram Monday.

Ervine and Williams duo kept them unscathed throughout the lunch session, frustrating the Bangladesh bowlers who did well to shut down the runs but lacked penetration to take any wickets.

Even though, spinners got the bounce and turn, Williams and Welch weathered their attack with utmost confidence.

However, Welch retired hurt and Craig Williams was picked up early by Nayeem shortly after tea. 

At lunch, Welch was not out 54 after hitting three fours and two sixes from 130 balls and Williams was batting on 55, sending the ball across the ropes for seven boundaries in 126 balls.

They added 90 runs till lunch for their unbeaten third wicket stand, showing the patience that required to deal with the disciplined bowling.

Welch was in an aggressive mood initially but as the time progressed he curbed the aggression to value his wicket.

He raised his second Test fifty off 107 balls, punching Taijul Islam past point for a couple of runs.

Williams was patient throughout the innings. He brought up his fifth half-century by chopping down a short ball of Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a single from 114 balls. 

Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran were the two wickets fallen after scoring identical 21 runs. 

The openers were solid against the pacers after their captain Craig Ervine chose to bat first, rotating the scoreboard with ease but pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the side a breakthrough in the 11th over by dismissing Bennett for his debut wicket.

Bennet who scored half-centuries in both innings of the first Test edged a three-quarter length delivery that carried extra bounce to baffle him.

As the spinners were introduced, Zimbabwe batters appeared to be in utter discomfort.

But the exception was Welch who dared to step out of the crease for several occasions with an aim to dominate the spinners.

He hit both Miraz and Taijul sixes but both of the spinners induced edges several times.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam's relentlessness got him the wicket when he turned one past sharply to get the better of Curran for 21.

Curran earlier was dropped by Shadman on 13 when he edged a tossed up delivery of Mehidy Hasan Miraz to first slip but he failed to make it count.